If it had snowed Saturday, it might have seemed more like Christmas, but then again the 1,500 would-be Santa Clauses who filled the streets by City Hall were a clear red sign of the times.

Some danced to Christmas carols like "Jingle Bells." Everyone posed for pictures.

"I was here last year for the first one and I wasn't going to let a little rain stop me from doing this one," said Tom Pacheco of South Boston. Pacheco, who is originally from New Bedford, said, "It's a really unique run. My niece and nephew like the Santa outfits."

"It's a fun way to ring in the Christmas season," said Colleen Kennefick of Mattapoisett.

The 5K Santa Claus run/walk was spearheaded by a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon, Geoff Smith of Mattapoisett. Proceeds will be donated to Southcoast Health System's Cardiac Prevention Program.

Celeste Langlois, who grew up in New Bedford and now lives in Blackstone, came with 18 people. "It's just fun to get into the Christmas spirit together and it's for a good cause," she said. "This is our first time, but we'll be back."

Cheryl Rupkus, 56, of New Bedford, said she came because,"It's for a good cause." Rupkus said she also wanted "to show that I can do this at my age."

Pointing to the thin material on her Santa Claus outfit, Selvy Conrad of Providence said, "We just hope the suits hold together."

Timothy Cox, shellfish warden in Fairhaven, watched his 12-year-old daughter run. Cox said he couldn't run himself because of bad knees from old sports injuries. "I think it's great. It goes to a good cause," he said of the run. "She loves to do stuff like this."

Among others who participated was Cynthia Spence who came with five friends from Whaling City Rowing. Spence said she started running a few years ago and was doing this "just for fun."

Mayor Jon Mitchell started his comments with, "Ho, Ho Ho. Who's been naughty?" He added, "You'll be nice today because you're running for a good cause." The mayor asked runners to be careful of the cobblestones.

Was the real Santa among the runners? It didn't seem so. Most of the men were too thin or too young and most had fake beards.

Still who knows? It would have been easy for the real Santa to slip in unseen and join in the fun in the Whaling City.